For a book that is 40 years old (I can’t believe I just typed 40 YEARS OLD!), Friends for Life by Ellen Emerson White holds up fairly well. Friends for Life was Ellen Emerson White’s debut in 1983. I don’t think I read the book the year it was released, but likely a year or so later, probably picking my copy up from our local Waldenbooks.
This YA mystery focuses on Susan who has moved back to her old Boston neighborhood for her senior year of high school after having been gone since the eighth grade. Her old boyfriend is still there as is Colleen, her best friend since childhood. The day after she moves back, her best friend turns up dead by an overdose. Susan is devastated but doesn’t believe it was an overdose or suicide. Because of something Colleen had said, Susan is convinced it’s murder and sets about trying to find the killer.
Friends for Life is a fast read, shorter than a lot of YA books of today, but it’s got a decent mystery that will keep a reader turning pages. I can’t remember when I last read it, but it was one that I had reread multiple times as a teen and it was fun to come back to it. I still like it. For an 80s mystery, it’s a good one and I’d recommend it.
Phyre Brown is just an ordinary teenager searching for love and adventure. But when a tragic accident reveals her true identity as an alien with extraordinary healing powers, Phyre’s life takes a dramatic turn. Forced to leave home and live with her estranged grandparents, Phyre finds herself bound to an alien boy named Kreaxlae, a member of the rival colony.
But when she meets his charming and mysterious brother, Phyre begins to question everything she knows about her past and her future. With the fate of two alien colonies and their safety at stake, Phyre must make a choice that will change her life forever.
Will she choose love or duty, passion or power? Find out in this thrilling sci-fi romance about the bonds that unite us, the powers that define us, and the choices that shape our destiny.
So what did I think?
I enjoy Dawn Husted’s books and I was excited to hear she had a new one. RADIANT ORIGIN is a YA sci-fi romance, actual star-crossed lovers. The book opens with tragedy but author Dawn Husted continues to give the reader hope throughout, even when things are at their darkest.
We find out quickly that Phyre Brown isn’t your average teenage girl. She’s a member of an alien colony that has settled on Earth after war destroyed their home planet. Phyre didn’t grow up knowing about her extraterrestrial heritage and it’s a shock when she learns of it immediately following the death of her beloved older sister.
Phyre is whisked away from the home she knows and is sent to live with her grandparents until she can be “bound” to another of her kind, although the boy is from a rival colony. I immediately felt empathy for Phyre—how could her parents send her away like that? It feels cruel even if necessary and I wanted her to have time to process not only her past and horrific present, but this unbelievable future her family has dumped on her less than 24 hours after a terrible life-changing event. Apparently, Phyre’s people have strict rules, customs, and division amongst themselves.
RADIANT ORIGIN has complicated family dynamics, a tumultuous love story, the classic “mean girl” balanced by the truly loyal friend, and the right amount of twists at just the right time.
Dawn Husted does an excellent job with intertwining the various subplots without bogging the reader down a lot of backstory. That said, I became very interested in the complexities of the alien people and I’d love to learn more about them. A prequel story about how they were before their war and their settlement on Earth would be a lot of fun to read.
Grab a copy of RADIANT ORIGIN today for an exciting YA with aliens, teen angst, and choices that will make or break an entire species. Definitely hop over to author Dawn Husted’s website and check out RADIAT ORIGIN and her other books.
Monsterious Book 1: Escape from Grimstone Manor had been on my radar since it was first announced and I was super excited when I won a copy from the amazing Writers With Wrinkles Podcast giveaway! I highly recommend their podcast to anyone who writes or reads books!
But back to the book! I love a fast-paced, scary middle grade story with awesome friends and a fun, yet creepy setting. Escape from Grimstone Manor, the first book in Matt McMann’s Monsterious series, gave me all that and more. This is a book 10-year-old Barb would have loved to read under the covers at night by flashlight and then again the next day, sneaking reading time during math class. (Yes, I used to do all that.)
It’s got:
A cool setting: amusement park + Gothic haunted mansion ride.
Super creepy backstory: necromancer who lived in the spooky mansion where the ride now sits and who may or may not still be around.
Awesome monsters: werewolf, lizard person, mummies, and skeletons!
Three fantastic friends: Zari, Mateo, and Taylor.
When the three friends get trapped overnight in the haunted mansion ride, they have to find their way out. During their search, they stumble on a hidden staircase that leads them into a crypt that shouldn’t be there. A crypt! Yikes! And then there’s the monsters. The kids not only have to fight real monsters, but they need to find the courage to face their own inner fears and even each other, because even for the best of friends, some things are just too much.
Beyond the great action scenes and spooky moments, what I loved most was the friendship between Zari, Mateo, and Taylor. They’re three very distinct characters, but right from the start you could feel their connection with each other and I knew they were going to need to lean on each other to make it through the night.
Escape from Grimstone Manor was a fast read for me and I totally enjoyed each page. If you or the kids are into books like Goosebumps, then McMann’s book is a must-read for sure. Grab your copy and keep an eye out for the other books in this series. Book 2, The Snatcher of RavenHollow is already out, book 3, Terror in Shadow Canyon releases in August, and book 4, The Beast of Skull Rock, is set to release January 2024.
You can find out more about author Matt McMann at his website here: https://mattmcmann.com/.
I was excited to receive HUMANBORN by Joanna Maciejewska as an ARC and the book totally lived up to my expectations—I enjoyed it so much I immediately ordered the paperback copy to add to my bookshelves and I’m now eagerly awaiting book two.
Magic has retired to Ireland, but it came with a price. Kaja Modrzewska is a cursed humanborn living in Dublin after the Magiclysm and war that took the lives of both the humanborn and mythborn. A former wartime scout, Kaja now makes her way as an information broker while trying to keep the chaotic magic that surges through her body at bay. Some day her body will give way, and the magic will take over, making her an Afflicted. When that happens, it’s game over.
Working with the mythborn Court brings its own set of challenges, especially when paired with an elite group of warriors to help solve a rash of bombings targeting both humanborn and mythborn. Kaja must navigate through deceptions, choose allegiances, and face her own mortality while trying to figure out who is behind the bombings.
I loved Kaja from the opening pages to the very end. She’s smart, a bit sarcastic, resourceful, and she’s not afraid to look at the big picture and do what’s right. The evolution of her relationship with mythborn Riagan was fun to read and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops in the next book. The main story lines were successfully tied, and I loved how author Joanna Maciejewska leaves just enough “wanting” to make us ready to get our hands on book two.
If a fantasy book with minimal romance, engaging political/court intrigue, an immersive magic system, and a smart, strong female protagonist is what you like to read—go grab a copy of HUMANBORN right now. For more information about HUMANBORN or other books by Joanna Maciejewska, including her “By the Pact” series, please head over to her website: authorjm.com
As a fan of Alysa’s “The Verdigris Pawn”, her new middle grade book BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS was one I had been eagerly awaiting. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
When I read MG books, I always think back to my own days as a kid, often reading under the covers past bedtime with a flashlight. BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS is most definitely a book kid-Barb would have not been able to put down.
Dare Coates is an awful girl. She’s been told that her whole life and she believes it. But Dare is so much more than what she, and everyone else thinks she is. Dare is wise and inquisitive and utterly fearless. One of my favorite quotes about Dare is:
“She was happy to be a thornbush among the lilies for even the sharpest thorns serve a purpose.”
After tragedy strikes and Dare is sent away from her isolated island home to live with a distant relative in a gritty city on the mainland, Dare discovers the stories she’s been told all her life about monsters may not be precisely true. Beyond Dare’s quest to uncover the truth about the monsters, giving the reader ample pages of action, mystery, magic, and creepy moments, this book also tackles deeper themes including grief, societal inequalities, and corruption. I think it’s important for young readers to delve into stories that show a MG protagonist questioning the actual truth of what has been considered “known” history.
One of my absolute favorite things about Alysa Wishingrad’s writing is her ability to completely command my attention with details that immerse me into the story and make me not want to leave. Her vivid descriptions of the island, Dare’s time on the ship, the city, and especially the theater centered me into Dare’s world. I also love that Dare finds friendship in unexpected places and how she learns that maybe she doesn’t have to always go it alone. That’s an important message for any age of reader.
I highly recommend BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS for middle grade readers, teens, and adults because there is something there for every age. It’s a beautifully written book and I’d love to read a sequel because I wasn’t ready to leave Dare and her world when I hit the last page.
You can find out more about BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS at Alysa Wishingrad’s website. Pop over and visit her there and be sure to check out “The Verdigris Pawn” as well, it’s a fantastic middle grade read you don’t want to miss.
I wish I could remember who recommended I pick up TWELFTH by Janet Key because I’d really like to thank them. Mysteries are my favorite and expanding my middle grade mystery shelf is one of my favorite things to do.
A 60-year missing diamond ring, a Shakespearian play, and a series of riddle-like clues help set the stage for a mystery-adventure that quickly ensnares Maren, a first-time camper at the Charlotte Goodman Theater Camp. While TWELFTH delivers a solid and satisfying mystery, it also gives the reader complex, realistic, and diverse characters that we need not only in middle grade fiction, but in all stories.
Set in a theater arts camp, the story is told in dual timelines with the “present day” set in 2015 — and there is a reason for this particular year as it ties into the stories. As a former theater kid and as a kid who went to summer camp, I found this book incredibly immersive with fabulous details and insights into what it’s like to rehearse a play and prepare for a performance.
For readers of all ages, TWELFTH will resonate. It deals with the complexities of mental health, bullying, and gender diversity. I highly recommend reading all of the Bonus Material at the end of the book as the interview with Dr. Jennifer Feldmann on gender diversity is wonderful.
Visit author Janet Key at her website for more information about where you can get a copy of TWELFTH and to find out about her other upcoming projects.
CHAOS RISING is everything I wanted from a Thrawn book. Timothy Zahn weaves a believable backstory for one of the iconic characters of the Star Wars universe. I absolutely enjoyed the “memories” chapters with a young Thrawn and his early student/cadet days plus the insight into his original family and connections with the Mitth family.
I loved every scene with his analysis of artwork as insight to battle tactics, something that we expect to see from Thrawn and Zahn didn’t disappoint. The character development of young Thrawn to Captain Thrawn also worked for. I particularly liked his interaction with Thalias and the young sky walker Che’ri.
Favorite quotes:
“There were dangers out there in the darkness, hidden worlds and tyrants who sought conquest and destruction.” (chapter one, page 17)
“Art mirrors the soul, from which tactics arise. One can see in artwork the strengths and weaknesses of those who created it.” (Thrawn)
“. . . negative information was still information.” (Thalias musing about Thrawn)
“All beings possess imagination to varying degrees. It can be encouraged and nurtured, or can sometimes shine out in moments of stress. But curiosity is a choice. Some wish to have it. Others don’t.” (Thrawn)
“The cautious path merely guarantees a slow slide to irrelevance.” (Mitth Patriarch)
Book 2:
GREATER GOOD dives deeper into Thrawn’s days as a Senior Captain in the Expansionary Defense Fleet. Book two of the trilogy continues the search for the mysterious enemy that has set out to destroy the Chiss. The enemy deftly begins to sow discord among the Chiss Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses, forcing Defense Fleet warriors to choose: Family or Military.
Again, the “memories” chapters were artfully constructed and some of my favorite pages as they allowed intriguing insight into the moves and countermoves of the enemy. As always, Thrawn doesn’t disappoint. His tactics intrigue me and I enjoy the reactions of the enemies as well as his peers as they try to figure out what he’s doing and if it will actually work. If you enjoy reading space battles, GREATER GOOD has plenty and the action keeps the pace moving.
One of my favorite aspects of this book, and of the trilogy as a whole, is the detailed immersion into the Chiss family structures and how it’s intertwined with the politics and military. GREATER GOOD is a solid book two in the trilogy, ending on a “what?!” moment that I loved.
Favorite quotes:
“We don’t do things just because they’re easier. We do things because they work.” (Mid Captain Samakro)
“It can be tactically advantageous for an enemy to believe in limits that don’t actually exist.” (Thrawn)
“The odds are never impossible, merely unfavorable.” (Thrawn)
Book 3:
From the inside book cover: “But the truth of a family’s legacy is only as strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to be a lie.”
LESSER EVIL concludes the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy. It is moves and countermoves, family versus family, and a series of what seem like inconsequential events that ultimately lead to the potential fall of a civilization. However, Thrawn will look into the deep past of the Chiss to save its future.
The “memories” chapters in LESSER EVIL are my favorite from all three books. I loved the story they told and it provides essential insight into who Thrawn is at the core and that makes it easier to understand the Thrawn we know from his Empire era. Author Timothy Zahn paints a clear picture of Thrawn and his relationship with Thrass, the one Chiss who truly becomes his friend, his brother.
The longest book of the trilogy, LESSER EVIL packs a punch with intense battles, twisty political ploys, back-stabbing family games, and still manages to weave in lighter moments at just the right time with banter on the starship bridge and insightful moments from our main character. Book three expertly wraps up the multitude of storylines, big and small. The final 100 pages were some of my favorites as Zahn gives the reader closure where it’s needed.
I knew going into the trilogy that somehow it would set things up for the next stage of Thrawn’s career, namely his exile and immersion into the Star Wars world as we know it. As a reader and long-time fan, I like the way the book concludes and how it leads us into what we know is coming next, especially if you’ve read THRAWN by Timothy Zahn (published in 2017).
Favorite quotes:
“In my experience, superior wisdom can stand on its own merits. It does not require a warship to force acceptance.” (Thrawn)
“Never throw away a possible weapon when it’s unnecessary to do so.” (Thrawn)
“And if there was one thing Ar’alani had learned about power, it was that for far too many people a small and fleeting taste wasn’t nearly enough.” (Admiral Ar’alani)
“Allies of convenience are still allies.” (Thrawn)
Author Ben Gartner has packed a galaxy of heart-pounding, sci-fi action into an unputdownable middle grade book that will capture the hearts and imagination of all ages. One Giant Leap is a book that 11-year-old me would have devoured in one sitting. I immediately connected with Fin Scott, loved the idea of the StellarKid Project, and was enthralled with every detail Gartner exquisitely incorporated into this thrilling story.
“I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.“
One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner
Fin Scott has won a place in the StellarKid Project and it’s an out-of-this-world opportunity! He’s blasting off to the International Space Station en route to the Gateway outpost that orbits the moon, but issues begin even before lift-off. When the team finally is in space, the unthinkable happens—a collision with space junk that immediately turns their epic journey into a race for survival.
While my readers and social media followers may associate me more with mysteries and thrillers, I am also a science fiction fan and I especially love realistically space stories. One Giant Leap is exactly that, a space adventure story that feels completely real on every page. The research conducted for this book amazes me, I highly recommend reading the author’s notes at the end.
I am grateful to Ben Gartner for offering me an ARC of One Giant Leap and I can’t wait to get my hands on a print copy when the book releases on February 21, 2023. Definitely add this middle grade book to your reading lists!
Pop over to https://bengartner.com/ to read more about One Giant Leap and how to pre-order your copy today. Be sure to take a look at Ben Gartner’s The Eye of Ra series too, it’s a historical adventure through time that you don’t want to miss.
I love the FRIGHT WATCH books by Lorien Lawrence! I pre-ordered my copy of UNMASKED (book 3) but then I held onto it, waiting to read it at the perfect time. That perfect time was on a flight to my family reunion. I read UNMASKED in one sitting and I was so into the story I couldn’t tell you a thing about anything that went on during that flight.
The third installment of the series more than lives up to the previous two–it’s frightfully fun filled with humor, heart, and scares perfect for a Halloween read (or any time of the year!) The story follows Marion, a talented creator of monster makeup and masks, who finds that one of her creations may be more than she intended. Marion is smart, funny, and very easy to relate to, especially for anyone who has or is dealing with any type of anxiety.
We get to spend time with Marion’s family (who I really liked as well), meet the boy she’s crushing on, and we get to connect with some of the Fright Watch series regulars. When Marion has to chase her creation down at the middle school Halloween dance, who else but Quinn and Mike of Goodie Lane are on hand to help. After all, they do have some experience with the supernatural and spooky.
UNMASKED was a joy to read, the perfect combination of scary and laugh-out-loud moments. You don’t need to read books one and two first, but I highly recommend both The Stitchers and The Collectors as well as UNMASKED.
Be sure to check out all of Lorien Lawrence’s books on her website at lorienlawrence.com.
Second, but equally important: this is how you complete a trilogy!
FRACTURED & RENEWED was everything I wanted as the third book of Natalie Cammaratta’s Falling & Uprising series: fast-paced, action-packed, and a total roller coaster ride of emotions.
As a personal rule, I don’t give out spoilers in any of my reviews, so I’m going to hold back on a critical event in this book, BUT, I have to say that there is a very specific relationship that made my heart happy — lots of swooning on my end as Natalie wrote each moment beautifully!
There is a LOT going on this book, but the intrigue, action, and relationship dynamics effortlessly blend for a thrill ride that doesn’t stop until the last page. On that note, I also have to say that the epilogue was perfect as well — I wanted to be there with everyone enjoying the special event and the lives that they’ve been able to build for themselves after such a tumultuous time.
If you love dystopian YA filled with espionage, action, romance, and fierce relationships, then you should definitely read all three books in the FALLING & UPRISING series.
